KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

Well, when we asked for rain we didn’t know that Mother Nature was going to give it to us for three days. It certainly has been a difference in weather; some are in sweatshirts and long pants when just a few days ago we were taking everything off that was legally acceptable in public. As I have said before, if you don’t like the weather in New England wait a minute!

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Anthony Chick, who celebrated his day August 22; Destiney Berninger, Michael Courtney, Joseph Serpa and Aiden Varkonda, who all celebrated August 24; Samuel Rollins, Emma Searle and Lucas Thors, who all celebrated August 25; and to Cooper Rogers, who celebrates his day today, August 27.

Special birthday wishes go to Linley Dolby, who celebrated her day August 23. Also she and her husband, Dave, celebrated their seventh anniversary on the same day. It was the first time in a long time it rained on her birthday. That is why they decided to get married on that day.

We wish strawberry shortcake birthday wishes to Capt. Porky and Karen Collins on their special day.

It seems the traffic has slowed a little. It doesn’t take me as long to get out of the driveway at work. I have seen a difference in the number of college kids that are around. We lost two last week who are going to school in a couple of weeks.

It is quiet at the Kresel household after everybody left on the 11 a.m. boat on Sunday. Sue, Jonathan, Benjamin and Ari Kaden came for the annual week with Grandma Mimi and Grandpa Jim on the Vineyard. They loved going to the beach and playing with Uncle Josh’s Legos. Jonathan and Courtney and their two dogs, Kaya and puppy Remy, arrived on Wednesday night. Clare Brauch and Jake Birner were able to spend a few days on the beach as well.

Friday night the Kresel children and their spouses treated Jim and Mary Ellen to a lovely dinner at the Beach Plum Inn in Chilmark. They wanted to all be together to celebrate Jim’s retirement from teaching at the high school.

This Sunday, August 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. there will be an opening party for the art of the ceramic bowl show at Featherstone Center for the Arts in Oak Bluffs. Island potters are making bowls for your pleasure and purchase, for $25 — you choose your bowl and they will fill it with soup and provide Rikards bread, beverages and dessert. Dining al fresco. Sound like fun! Please join them! The show will continue for two weeks following the opening. A beautiful quilt show is up until then. Featherstone is located on Barnes Road.

My road here by the school is getting busier; the teachers are getting their classrooms ready for new students. It doesn’t seem possible that school will be started again in a couple of weeks. I am sure there are parents who are counting the days.

Our tomato garden this year has taken off and we have tomatoes all over the place. So I have been playing Martha Stewart for the past couple of weeks and making tomato sauce, thanks to many folks sharing their secret recipes. It is not hard; the time-consuming thing is letting the sauce simmer for three hours. So needless to say, we took advantage of the rainy weather to get the job done.

Next weekend is Labor Day so enjoy the next week of summer. I know it is not the last of the warm weather and there are still things to be done, but our daily schedule will somewhat change.

Have a great week, and keep the home candles burning.